Mets-Rockies Preview

Very little went right for the Colorado Rockies over their nine-game road trip.

Michael Cuddyer, however, managed to get a hit in each of those contests.

Cuddyer will try to establish a franchise record by hitting safely in 24 consecutive games Thursday when the Rockies host the New York Mets in a makeup game.

The Rockies (39-40) are back home after a 2-7 trip that dropped them from one-half game out of first place in the NL West to three games back of division-leading Arizona.

"We're not going to sit and think about this road trip,'' manager Walt Weiss said after Wednesday's 5-3 loss to Boston. "We'll show up at Coors (Field) and try to win that game, and the next day we'll do the same thing. We'll just keep grinding along.''

Cuddyer supplied almost all of Colorado's offense Wednesday with a pair of solo homers to extend his hitting streak to 23 games - matching Dante Bichette's club record set in 1995. Cuddyer is batting .375 with five homers and 16 RBIs during his run, which is also the longest in the majors this year.

"Nothing really that he does surprises me,'' Weiss said. "He does everything right and it's good to see him playing like he is.''

Cuddyer is 4 for 7 in two games against the Mets this year, but has never faced scheduled starter Jeremy Hefner (2-6, 3.89 ERA).

Colorado won each of those earlier matchups - running its win streak in the series to seven - and this is a makeup of the teams' April 17 snowed-out game.

The Mets (31-43) arrive in Denver to conclude an 11-game trip after going 6-4 with stops in Atlanta, Philadelphia and Chicago. With the heavy travel, manager Terry Collins is expected to rest David Wright, holding him out of the starting lineup for just the second time.

Leadoff hitter Eric Young had three hits and drove in a run in Wednesday's 3-0 win over the White Sox. Acquired from the Rockies on June 18, Young has been locked in lately, going 11 for 21 with four doubles and six RBIs during a five-game hitting streak.

"I think he should be really proud of what he's done here,'' Collins said. "He's ignited our offense a little bit, I think. He's been getting on and getting in scoring position. I think he's made a big difference for us.

Young will get his first look at former teammate Tyler Chatwood (4-1, 2.22), who is 3-1 with a 1.93 ERA in six starts since being recalled from the minors. The right-hander gave up one run and four hits in six innings in a 2-1 loss to Washington on Friday, but didn't get a decision.

In two career starts against the Mets, Chatwood has allowed seven hits and seven walks over 10 scoreless innings, going 1-0.

Hefner permitted a season-high 10 hits Friday, but limited Philadelphia to three runs over six innings in a 4-3 victory. The right-hander has a 2.50 ERA over his last six starts.

His only career outing against the Rockies was April 18, when he surrendered solo homers to Dexter Fowler and Troy Tulowitzki in one inning of relief. He won't have to worry about facing Tulowitzki, who is on the disabled list, and Fowler is listed as day-to-day with a hand injury.

Chatwood, meanwhile, has yet to serve up a homer in 44 2-3 innings this season - the only pitcher not to allow a home run with at least 40 innings.